Since becoming a republic in 1946, Italy has had 28 Prime Ministers which is by far the largest number recorded by any Western democracy in the same period.It is politics Italian-style, which means never letting anyone become established at the helm of government.

As the heads of government of the world’s seven most industrialized democracies walked down the streets of Taormina towards the San Domenico Palace Hotel where their meetings were to take place, an old Sicilian man observing the scene was heard saying: “Questo G7 sarà oscurato dalla bellezza di Taormina” (This G7 will be overshadowed by the beauty of Taormina).

The appreciation of female beauty has been at the heart of Italian art and culture for centuries, and continues to be relevant in contemporary Italy. The feminist idea that glamour works against women, famously argued by the American author Naomi Wolf in her book “The Beauty Myth”, has never taken root in Italy.

He is the youngest ever-Italian prime minister and has been set out to transform his outdated and ailing country into a leading European nation. His name, of course, is Matteo Renzi and his sheer optimism and confidence are reminiscent of the early days of Silvio Berlusconi’s rise to power.